In My Kitchen - April 2019

April is a big month here at chez Pickings:  we have Mr P.'s birthday, several friends' birthdays and Easter.  Hopefully Autumn will actually start to feel like Autumn too.  I am so looking forward to some cool weather, and pulling out my many and varied scarves.  I hope you've all had a great month, with lots of fun and food in your kitchen.  

So come along and join in this month, folks!  I am breathless with anticipation to see what you've all been up to lately.    

Let's take a look - here in my April kitchen:

another cookbook

This one is by Karen Burns-Booth (as you can see), the author of the above-named (award-winning) blog.  The name always makes me think of that play with Maggie Smith - Lettice and Lovage, which we saw in London years ago.  We were living in the house of Alyson Segal, the interior designer and textile gallery owner who supplied the glorious antique textiles for the play.  We were lucky enough to be given a private showing of the beautiful costumes to be worn by the actors.  Anyway, I will get back to you about the book when I've had a thorough perusal.  

Japanese spice mix

These Japanese demons look a bit scary; hopefully not indicative of the spice level.  Not that we mind a bit of heat chez Pickings.

yep, "it makes you addicted."

This spice mix from Japan was given to me by my cousin.  It is Shichimi - a mix of chilli, sesame seeds, mustard seeds and a few other things.  They make it with confidence, as you can see :-)  

everything chilli!

Yep, we went to a chilli festival a few weeks ago.  All the stalls were selling chilli-enhanced items, including the fudge, and salt and cordial.  We had great fun watching some tough blokes showing how tough they were by eating some of the hottest chillies on the planet.  The winner calmly scoffed down a selection of chillies, followed by just a sip of milk.  Eek!

another ceramic bowl

This beautiful dinner bowl by Sit Still Lauren gives me joy, every time I look at it.  And I know that's what is important in life, to fill your life with joy.  Well, amongst lots of other important things, but you know what I mean.

oh can it be?  yes another one

I admit it; I am a cookbook junkie and my shelves are bursting at the seams.  Dare I tell you that two more are on their way to my house?  Wait till next month for those, my friends.  For those of you who don't know about Mirka and Georges Mora, they were European refugees from the Second World War.  Mirka narrowly escaped being sent to Auschwitz along with her mother.  She became an artist in Australia, and she and Georges started up a number of cafés and a restaurant in Melbourne.  They were very bohemian, and were a big influence on the cultural scene of their adopted city.  I have tried one of her recipes, and will share that on the blog soon.

a view of my kitchen

Our newish fridge looks a bit small here, but it is actually a big one that looms in the room (see I'm poetic too:-))  Our old one died a horrible, gaseous, poisonous death, so this new and sparkling and extremely efficient one is a delight. 

more Japanese goodies

I hit the local Japanese grocery store again last week, and yippee! I found a supply of 'Soft Salad', my fave ricey snack.  Along with some salt reduced, gluten free tamari, and black sesame seeds that I was hunting around for without success.  Thank goodness they had a supply, so now I can make that salmon salad I've been planning for a while.

one guess? yep weights for my sauerkraut crock 

Finally the weights for my crock have turned up, so when it gets a bit cooler (ha ha!), I shall try making sauerkraut.  I'm a bit afraid it would ferment and explode with the current heat that never stops:-)

fresh limes off the tree

A friend who lives nearby gave us some fresh limes, straight off the tree.  I didn't know that limes can grow well in sub-tropical climes, but clearly they can and do!  

Well, that's it from me for this month's IMK post.  Please feel free to join in; we all love to share what's happening in our global kitchens.  So come along!

 
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In My Kitchen posts:

an evolving life IMK Apr2019

Green Gourmet Giraffe IMK Apr2019

NotQuiteNigella IMK Apr2019

                      

Sherrys Pickings